Cast your minds back to August 16th 2008 and the men’s 100m final at the Beijing Olympics. Who could forget the phenomenal world record of 9.69 seconds set by Usain Bolt. And what did he do exactly one year later??? Only obliterated him own record with a staggering time of 9.58sec – taking an unheard of 0.11 seconds off the previous mark. The greatest chunk off of the 100m record prior to last Sunday was 0.05 seconds – achieved by Bolt and Maurice Greene before him. Unbelievable!!!
So when Thursday night’s men’s 200m final came around – a full year to the day since the Beijing final when Bolt broke Michael Johnson’s 200m record, I was more than a little surprised to hear all the pundits claim there would be no world record. What, athletics greatest showman simply settling for the gold medal? Never… And Bolt didn’t disappoint, amazingly taking, that’s right, 0.11 seconds off his own world record to take the gold in 19.19 sec. The Berlin track is supposedly not that fast, yet a record five men dipped under 20 seconds in that race. Usain felt that the race was fast but not that good (what?), so just how much faster can he go??? Perhaps we’ll find out on August 20th next year?
Almost as entertaining as the race itself were the celebrations afterwards. Ahem, here’s where I have to admit a guilty secret… I have a bit of a thing for sports mascots and Berlino the Bear is one of my favourites. Following the 200m Berlino raced Usain around the track and stopped for photos with the World Champion, even posing next to the world record timer. Earlier in the week the cheeky bear also got it on with gold medallists Steffi Nerius and Anna Rogowska, and was launched over the shoulders of Robert Harting. Best of all was the ride he gave Melaine Walker after her victory in the 400m hurdles. Clearly high on the atmosphere in the Olympic Stadium, Berlino gave Melaine a piggy-back around the stadium only to be stopped in his tracks by a trolley full of hurdles at which point he dropped the Jamaican on her arse! (Being the true gent he is, he quickly picked her up and checked she was OK). http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/8213221.stm
Berlino, you’re a legend and I love you…are you single???